The most red-faced moments a teenager has to endure are rarely the ones portrayed on-screen — just ask the cast of the upcoming Nickelodeon movie Fun Size. Teenage show drama series mastermind Josh Schwartz — better known for creating Gossip Girl and The O.C. — captured All Hallows Eve gone wrong for his directorial debut.
The story is centered on Wren (Victoria Justice) whose plans on Halloween get ruined when she gets stuck babysitting her annoying little brother Albert (Jackson Nicoll), who she loses in the amidst of trick-or-treating. Alongside her best friend April (Jane Levy), and with the aide of two nerds, Wren goes on an adventure-filled search before her mom (Chelsea Handler) finds out he’s M.I.A.
Hollywood.com recently sat down with the Fun Size stars Victoria Justice, Jackson Nicoll, Thomas Mann, Osric Chau and director Josh Schwartz to discuss their thoughts on the holiday and growing up with their real-life siblings — which even included getting the better candy-trading deal.
“I was really about how much candy can I score, and then how can I convince my brother how this particular candy – Payday, let’s say – was worth trading for three Almond Joys,” Schwartz recalled of his Halloween memories. “It was really about ripping off my brother at the end of the day.”
Treat yourself to this family-friendly treat when Fun Size hits theaters Friday, October 26. Check out the interviews below:
[Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures]
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The former series star is fell or jumped to his death outside a Los Angeles home just days after his release from jail for assault with a deadly weapon and just months after being sentenced to serve 291 days in prison on first degree burglary charges.
Police officials suspect he killed his 81-year-old landlady, Catherine Davis, and a pet cat before he died, and they claim the actor, who played Kip 'Half-Sack' Epps on the show until 2009, was under the influence of a drug like Phencyclidine (PCP) or methamphetamine at the time of the killings.
Now Sutter has opened up about the tragedy, confessing he knew the actor was on a deadly downward spiral.
In a post on his WhoSay blog, Sutter writes, "Not sure if folks know this yet, but johnny lewis (halfsack) died last night... it was a tragic end for an extremely talented guy, who unfortunately had lost his way.
"I wish i could say that i was shocked by the events last night, but i was not. i am deeply sorry that an innocent life had to be thrown into his destructive path. Yes, it's (a) day (of) mourning, but it's also a day of awareness and gratitude. sadly, some of us carry the message by dying."
A number of other celebrities have also paid respect to the tragic 30 year old, who briefly dated singer Katy Perry - her pal, actress Shannon Woodward, wrote, "Johnny Lewis, I love you deeply and madly and always. My heart is broken in a million little pieces. I will miss you every day... (He) was one of my best friends. He was very, very ill. His actions were a despicable result of that. It was not who he was."
And Haylie Duff, whose sister Hilary appeared in musical movie Raise Your Voice alongside Lewis, tweeted, "So sad to hear the news about Johnny Lewis. Such a nice and talented guy. RIP."
Meanwhile producer Josh Schwartz, who worked with the actor on teen drama O.C., added: "Sad news about Johnny Lewis. Hadn't seen him in years but back then he was a very sweet, nice, talented guy. Thoughts to his family."

While recent animated blockbusters have aimed to viewers of all ages starting with fantastical concepts and breathtaking visuals but tackling complex emotional issues along the way Ice Age: Continental Drift is crafted especially for the wee ones — and it works. Venturing back to prehistoric times once again the fourth Ice Age film paints broad strokes on the theme of familial relationships throwing in plenty of physical comedy along the way. The movie isn't that far off from one of the many Land Before Time direct-to-video sequels: not particularly innovative or necessary but harmless thrilling fun for anyone with a sense of humor. Unless they have a particular distaste for wooly mammoths the kids will love it.
Ice Age: Continental Drift continues to snowball its cartoon roster bringing back the original film's trio (Ray Romano as Manny the Mammoth Denis Leary as Diego the Sabertooth Tiger and John Leguizamo as Sid the Sloth) new faces acquired over the course of the franchise (Queen Latifah as Manny's wife Ellie) and a handful of new characters to spice things up everyone from Nicki Minaj as Manny's daughter Steffie to Wanda Sykes as Sid's wily grandma. The whole gang is living a pleasant existence as a herd with Manny's biggest problem being playing overbearing dad to the rebellious daughter. Teen mammoths they always want to go out and play by the waterfall! Whippersnappers.
The main thrust of the film comes when Scratch the Rat (whose silent comedy routines in the vein of Tex Avery/WB cartoons continue to be the series highlight) accidentally cracks the singular continent Pangea into the world we know today. Manny Diego and Sid find themselves stranded on an iceberg once again forced on a road trip journey of survival. The rest of the herd embarks to meet them giving Steffie time to realize the true meaning of friendship with help from her mole pal Louis (Josh Gad).
The ham-handed lessons may drag for those who've passed Kindergarten but Ice Age: Continental Drift is a lot of fun when the main gang crosses paths with a group of villainous pirates. (Back then monkeys rabbits and seals were hitting the high seas together pillaging via boat-shaped icebergs. Obviously.) Quickly Ice Age becomes an old school pirate adventure complete with maritime navigation buried treasure and sword fights. Gut (Peter Dinklage) an evil ape with a deadly... fingernail leads the evil-doers who pose an entertaining threat for the familiar bunch. Jennifer Lopez pops by as Gut's second-in-command Shira the White Tiger and the film's two cats have a chase scene that should rouse even the most apathetic adults. Hearing Dinklage (of Game of Thrones fame) belt out a pirate shanty may be worth the price of admission alone.
With solid action (that doesn't need the 3D addition) cartoony animation and gags out the wazoo Ice Age: Continental Drift is entertainment to enjoy with the whole family. Revelatory? Not quite. Until we get a feature length silent film of Scratch's acorn pursuit we may never see a "classic" Ice Age film but Continental Drift keeps it together long enough to tell a simple story with delightful flare that should hold attention spans of any length. Massive amounts of sugar not even required.
[Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox]

Climbing the ladder from young actor to respected thespian is no easy task. There is a strategy to evolving a career — someone who stars on a long running, kid-centric show probably shouldn't suddenly pop up a Sundance indie about meth abuse and interspecies lovemaking, for instance (even thought it might sell a few tickets). The bridge film is key, and the next tween starlet to attempt the transition is Victoria Justice, star of the highly-successful Nickelodeon comedy Victorious. Her transition gamble? Fun Size, the feature debut of The OC, Chuck, and Gossip Girl creator Josh Schwartz.
Jugding from the first trailer for the film, Justice may have made the perfect choice. The film riffs on the Adventures in Babysitting formula: girl and friend want to go to a big party, but find themselves stuck with girl's little brother. When he disappears, it's up to them and a ragtag team of folk to track him down over one wiiiiiild night. Not Shakespeare, but a great comedic vehicle for everyone involved, including Justice, Suburgatory's Jane Levy, and Project X's Thomas Mann. The Halloween setting opens up the adventure to the door to wacky situations and colorful costumes (also, gamers: anyone pick up a Costume Quest vibe?), and with Schwartz at the helm, Fun Size looks to have a necessary edge lacking in most tween-centric entertainment.
Justice made a splash earlier this year with her indie sex comedy The First Time (note: no animals involved with that one), but she's lucky to see Fun Size see release before that slightly more raunchy entry to her filmography. Look at her predecessors jump to the big screen: Miley Cyrus plaid it real safe with Hannah Montana: The Movie, Selena Gomez grew up just a tad with the rom-com Monte Carlo and Miranda Cosgrove is taking it slow with voiceover roles (Despicable Me) and a potential iCarly movie. Careerwise, Justice is just the underhand pitch needs to really demonstrate her skills — plus, it looks funny!
Check out the first trailer for Fun Size and look out for the film when it hits theaters October 26.
Follow Matt Patches on Twitter @misterpatches
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[Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures]

A kids’ movie without the cheeky jokes for adults is like a big juicy BLT without the B… or the T. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted may have a title that sounds like it was made up in a cartoon sequel laboratory but when it comes to serving up laughs just think of the film as a BLT with enough extra bacon to satisfy even the wildest of animals — or even a parent with a gaggle of tots in tow. Yes even with that whole "Afro Circus" nonsense.
It’s not often that we find exhaustively franchised films like the Madagascar set that still work after almost seven years. Despite being spun off into TV shows and Christmas specials in addition to its big screen adventures the series has not only maintained its momentum it has maintained the part we were pleasantly surprised by the first time around: great jokes.
In this third installment of the series – the trilogy-maker if you will – directing duo Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath add Conrad Vernon (director Monsters Vs. Aliens) to the helm as our trusty gang swings back into action. Alex the lion (Ben Stiller) Marty the zebra (Chris Rock) Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer) are stuck in Africa after the hullaballoo of Madagascar 2 and they’ll do anything to get back to their beloved New York. Just a hop skip and a jump away in Monte Carlo the penguins are doing their usual greedy schtick but the zoo animals catch up with them just in time to catch the eye of the sinister animal control stickler Captain Dubois (Frances McDormand). And just like that the practically super human captain is chasing them through Monte Carlo and the rest of Europe in hopes of planting Alex’s perfectly coifed lion head on her wall of prized animals.
Luckily for pint-sized viewers Dubois’ terrifying presence is balanced out by her sheer inhuman strength uncanny guiles and Stretch Armstrong flexibility (ah the wonder of cartoons) as well as Alex’s escape plan: the New Yorkers run away with the European circus. While Dubois’ terrifying Doberman-like presence looms over the entire film a sense of levity (which is a word the kiddies might learn from Stiller’s eloquent lion) comes from the plan for salvation in which the circus animals and the zoo animals band together to revamp the circus and catch the eye of a big-time American agent. Sure the pacing throughout the first act is practically nonexistent running like a stampede through the jungle but by the time we're palling around under the big top the film finds its footing.
The visual splendor of the film (and man is there a champion size serving of it) the magnificent danger and suspense is enhanced to great effect by the addition of 3D technology – and not once is there a gratuitous beverage or desperate Crocodile Dundee knife waved in our faces to prove its worth. The caveat is that the soundtrack employs a certain infectious Katy Perry ditty at the height of the 3D spectacular so parents get ready to hear that on repeat until the leaves turn yellow.
But visual delights and adventurous zoo animals aside Madagascar 3’s real strength is in its script. With the addition of Noah Baumbach (Greenberg The Squid and the Whale) to the screenwriting team the script is infused with a heightened level of almost sarcastic gravitas – a welcome addition to the characteristically adult-friendly reference-heavy humor of the other Madagascar films. To bring the script to life Paramount enlisted three more than able actors: Vitaly the Siberian tiger (Bryan Cranston) Gia the Leopard (Jessica Chastain) and Stefano the Italian Sealion (Martin Short). With all three actors draped in European accents it might take viewers a minute to realize that the cantankerous tiger is one and the same as the man who plays an Albuquerque drug lord on Breaking Bad but that makes it that much sweeter to hear him utter slant-curse words like “Bolshevik” with his usual gusto.
Between the laughs the terror of McDormand’s Captain Dubois and the breathtaking virtual European tour the Zoosters’ accidental vacation is one worth taking. Madagascar 3 is by no means an insta-classic but it’s a perfectly suited for your Summer-at-the-movies oasis.

UPDATE: Today is a sad day for many CW fans, as two of its "on the bubble" shows were officially given the axe. It's time to say goodbye to Sarah Michelle Gellar's post-Buffy effort, Ringer, and The Vampire Diaries' Thursday night companion, The Secret Circle. Secret Circle was finally starting to pick up some steam, but CW had to make room for its five -- yes, five -- drama series pick-ups.
So, who will be joining The Vampire Diaries, 90210, Gossip Girl, Nikita, Supernatural, and Hart of Dixie next fall? Hollywood.com has all your details below:
The Carrie Diaries Starring AnnaSophia Robb
Have you ever wondered what Carrie Bradshaw was wearing back in 1984? If so, here's your chance to find out. Robb will star as New York's most popular fictional style-icon, who struggles with everyday teenage life in Connecticut -- until she meets her "first love", Manhattan. The show will also star Switched At Birth's Austin Butler and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World's Ellen Wong. Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage of Gossip Girl fame are set to executive produce, along with Len Goldstein and author Candace Bushnell.
Arrow Starring Stephen Amell
Fans of the dearly departed Smallville will now have another DC Comics superhero to root for. Amell stars as Oliver Queen, who is just your average, everyday billionaire playboy until he survives a violent shipwreck and re-emerges as The Green Arrow. The series will also star Katie Cassidy, who recently starred in The CW's failed Melrose Place reboot, and who is also known as that girl who dies in every horror movie.
Beauty And The Beast Starring Kristin Kreuck
Beauty and the Beast will be a contemporary reboot of the 1980s series, which starred Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. This time around, Smallville's Kreuck will star as Detective Catherine Chandler, and Jay Ryan will play Vincent -- a presumed-dead doctor who gets a little beastly when he's mad. It's a tale as old as time.
Cult Starring Matt Davis
Fans of The Vampire Diaries' very recently departed Alaric will be happy to know that he's coming back next season: As investigative reporter Jeff Sefton, on a completely different show. Jeff is a previously no-nonsense blogger who changes his tune when his brother goes missing. The likely culprit is somehow involved with the mysterious TV series "Cult", but the only one who believes him is one of the show's assistants, Skye (Jessica Lucas, also of Melrose-reboot fame). It would seem that fans of the show have become completely obsessed, and are re-creating its crimes in the real world. Digging into weird fan culture is always a good time, so we're looking forward to this one.
First Cut Starring Mamie Gummer
Gummer will star as Emily Barnes, a fresh out of med school intern at Denver Memorial Hospital. Barnes has stars in her eyes and hope in her heart, but she soon learns that hospital life is remarkably similar to high school -- where she was a certified nerd. Emily will have to navigate her way through the hospital's vicious cliques, while actual lives hang in the balance. Justin Hartley, who coincidentally played Green Arrow on Smallville, and Heroes' Jack Coleman also star.
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Theatrics slapstick and cheer are cinematic qualities you rarely find outside the realm of animation. Disney perfected it with their pantheon of cartoon classics mixing music humor spectacle and light-hearted drama that swept up children while still capturing the imaginations and hearts of their parents. But these days even reinterpretations of fairy tales get the gritty make-over leaving little room for silliness and unfiltered glee. Emerging through that dark cloud is Mirror Mirror a film that achieves every bit of imagination crafted by its two-dimensional predecessors and then some. Under the eye of master visualist Tarsem Singh (The Fall Immortals) Mirror Mirror's heightened realism imbues it with the power to pull off anything — and the movie never skimps on the anything.
Like its animated counterparts Mirror Mirror stays faithful to its source material but twists it just enough to feel unique. When Snow White (Lily Collins) was a little girl her father the King ventured into a nearby dark forest to do battle with an evil creature and was never seen or heard from again. The kingdom was inherited by The Queen (Julia Roberts) Snow's evil stepmother and the fair-skinned beauty lived locked up in the castle until her 18th birthday. Grown up and tired of her wicked parental substitute White sneaks out of the castle to the village for the first time. There she witnesses the economic horrors The Queen has imposed upon the people of her land all to fuel her expensive beautification. Along the way Snow also meets Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer) who is suffering from his own money troubles — mainly being robbed by a band of stilt-wearing dwarves. When the Queen catches wind of the secret excursion she casts Snow out of the castle to be murdered by her assistant Brighton (Nathan Lane).
Fairy tales take flack for rejecting the idea of women being capable but even with its flighty presentation and dedication to the old school Disney method Mirror Mirror empowers its Snow White in a genuine way thanks to Collins' snappy charming performance. After being set free by Brighton Snow crosses paths with the thieving dwarves and quickly takes a role on their pilfering team (which she helps turn in to a Robin Hooding business). Tarsem wisely mines a spectrum of personalities out of the seven dwarves instead of simply playing them for one note comedy. Sure there's plenty of slapstick and pun humor (purposefully and wonderfully corny) but each member of the septet stands out as a warm compassionate companion to Snow even in the fantasy world.
Mirror Mirror is richly designed and executed in true Tarsem-fashion with breathtaking costumes (everything from ball gowns to the dwarf expando-stilts to ridiculous pirate ship hats with working canons) whimsical sets and a pitch-perfect score by Disney-mainstay Alan Menken. The world is a storybook and even its monsters look like illustrations rather than photo-real creations. But what makes it all click is the actors. Collins holds her own against the legendary Julia Roberts who relishes in the fun she's having playing someone despicable. She delivers every word with playful bite and her rapport with Lane is off-the-wall fun. Armie Hammer riffs on his own Prince Charming physique as Alcott. The only real misgiving of the film is the undercooked relationship between him and Snow. We know they'll get together but the journey's half the fun and Mirror Mirror serves that portion undercooked.
Children will swoon for Mirror Mirror but there's plenty here for adults — dialogue peppered with sharp wisecracks and a visual style ripped from an elegant tapestry. The movie wears its heart on its sleeve and rarely do we get a picture where both the heart and the sleeve feel truly magical.
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Since the casting for the CW and Josh Schwartz' Sex and the City prequel, The Carrie Diaries, was announced, fans have wondered whether or not AnnaSophia Robb could fill Carrie Bradshaw's strappy sandals. Now, there's photo evidence that, at the very least, she's got the look down.
The CW released an official image of the teen Bradshaw smiling in a glitzy gown and age-appropriate, yet daring cardigan while standing on a Brooklyn rooftop with a perfect view of the Manhattan skyline. It's not too far from the classic episode that found Carrie and Co. at a rooftop drag queen barbecue. But the real question isn't about how well the production staff recreated a scene from the original show, but rather if the image really captures the essence of such a classic character.
As we reported earlier, Robb already has the approval of Sarah Jessica Parker: "She was just very encouraging about it all. It was really cool!" she said. And now we can see she's got the carefree attitude down, the curly hair, the fearless style with a few marks of teenage innocence. Now all she needs a Mac book—er, typewriter. Remember, the show takes place in the 80s.
What do you think of young Carrie? Can she compare to the original?
[THR]

The hit TV series, starring Blake Lively and Leighton Meester as wealthy New York socialites, is to be revamped for Asian audiences and transformed into China Girl, which will be filmed in Mandarin, with creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage acting as consultants.
The new show will feature a Chinese cast and is likely to include less racy storylines than its American counterpart to adhere to the country's strict broadcasting regulations.
It is due to debut in November (12), according to the Los Angeles Times.

The CW's heavily hyped Sex and the City prequel series, The Carrie Diaries, has found its star: the new face of Miss Bradshaw. AnnaSophia Robb (Soul Surfer) is the new Carrie, portraying Sarah Jessica Parker's beloved character from the HBO series as an impressionable (or more likely impression-making) teenager in the 80s.
You may recognize Robb from Soul Surfer or Bridge to Terabithia, but perhaps her most famous role is as Violet Beauregard in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The starlet is now all grown up and ready to endure the rigors of high school on the small screen. Little is known about this young Carrie, but a penchant for off-the-wall fashion and impossibly strappy sandals probably aren't much of a stretch. And while SATC fans may be wary of their beloved heroine going the way of a CW vixen, temporary solace can at least come with the notion that melodrama experts Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (The OC, Gossip Girl) join Sex and The City and Carrie Diaries author Candace Bushnell on the show's production team.
Do you think Robb is a fitting choice for young Carrie?
Source: EW

Title

Produced hit prime time series "Gossip Girl" (The CW) and "Chuck" (NBC)

Feature directorial debut, "Fun Size"

Wrote TV-movie "Brookfield"

Created and produced Fox teen drama "The O.C."

Summary

Often inspired by his own personal experiences of teen angst, Josh Schwartz made developing and creating character-driven programs geared toward a younger audiences look easy. Schwartz first gained attention when he created the hit series "The O.C." (Fox, 2003-07), an intelligent teen drama about young adults who live in a posh California seaside community. The show's multidimensional characters set the tone for the talented writer-producer's follow-up projects, most notably "Gossip Girl" (The CW, 2007-2012), a glossy teen melodrama where Schwartz delved into the lives of a group of beautiful and privileged young Manhattan socialites. While he was deft at developing dramas that stayed true to the world of wealthy and the elite, Schwartz also succeeded in crafting heartfelt stories from characters that live in small towns, as he did on "Hart of Dixie" (The CW, 2011- ). Throughout his career, Schwartz never wavered in creating universal stories and characters that audiences of any age could either relate to or aspire to, consistently proving that he was undeniably one of the industry's most refreshing and original voices.